Extensible bracelet for wrist-watches or for ornamental purposes having ushaped link connecting springs



F. BIND 2,819,585

FOR 0R ING SPRINGS Jan. 14, 1958 ER EXTENSIBLE BRACELET FOR WRIST-WATCHES OR NAMENTAL PURPOSES HAVING U-SHAPED LINK CONNECT .Filed Oct. 11, 1956 United States Patent EXTENSIBLE BRACELET FOR WRIST-WATCHES OR FOR ORNAMENTAL PURPOSES HAVING U- S'HAPED LINK CONNECTING SPR NGS Fritz Binder, Pforzheim, Germany, assignor to Rodi & Wienenberger Akt.-Ges., Pforzheim, Germany, a firm Application October 11, 1956, Serial No. 615,374 Claims priority, application Germany October 22, 1955 Claims. (Cl. 59-79) This invention relates to an extensible bracelet to be used as wrist-watch bracelet and for ornamental purposes.

Various kinds of extensible bracelets for wiist-watches or ornamental purposes are already known to the art, and all of them have the advantage that they are put onto the arm without special locking means, by simply slipping them onto it. Moreover, all of them yield elastically to the movements of the arm, and in no way em-- barrass the wearer. However, there also should be the possibility to shorten or lengthen these bracelets through detachment or addition of one or a plurality of links, whereby the construction should preferably be so devised that all of the links are exchangeable without difiiculty.

T-o devise the construction of the bracelet in such a way that the aforesaid requirement of exchangeability of the links is thereby fulfilled, is the object of the present invention.

The extensible bracelet of the invention provided with ornamental show surfaces is characterized by the feature that leaf springs of circular or bail-like formation, which preferably extend over the entire width of the bracelet, engage with angularly bent-off ends behind rearwardly and inwardly curved transversely extending end portions of cover links provided with the ornamental show surfaces in such manner that pull exerted on the bracelet opens or moves the angularly bent-01f ends of the leaf springs farther apart against the spring resistance of the springs whereby the length of the opening movement is limited by intermediate connecting members engaging in the adjacent ornamental cover links.

In this way, there is produced a sturdy bracelet which can easily be shortened or lengthened through additional insertion or through removal of springs and appertaining ornamental cover links to a required size.

Furthermore, in order to increase or to facilitate the extensibility of the leaf springs, the latter may be devised in such a way that they are provided with one or a plurality of additional inwardly extending loops.

The aforesaid intermediate connecting members may engage by means of laterally projecting portions in wide slots of. one ornamental cover link, and by means of hook-like sockets in narrower slots of the other adjacent cover link. Furthermore, the connecting members may be provided with central openings in order to increase their flexibility.

Additional features and advantages of the invention will be understood from a consideration of the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification and in which an embodiment of the invention has been shown by way of example. However, I wish to say that the invention is not confined to any strict conformity with the showing of the drawings but may be changed or modified, so long as such changes or modifications mark no material departure from the salient features of the invention as expressed in the appending claims.

In the drawings, in which like parts are referred to by the same reference numerals in all of the several figures,

Fig. 1 is a side view of the bracelet, partly in section, and partly in extended condition;

Fig. 2 is atop view of the bracelet, partly in section, and partly in extended condition;

Fig. 3 is a rear view of the bracelet of Figs. 1 and 2;

Figs. 4 to 6 are perspective views of leaf springs used in the construction of the bracelet.

The bracelet consists of .the links '1 provided with the ornamental show surfaces and having their transversely extending side portions inwardly bent and thus forming the flaps 2 extending transversely to the direction in which the bracelet extends. in the flaps 2 engages the curved leaf springs 3 by means of their angularly inward-1y bent end portions 4. When pull is exerted .on the bracelet, these curved leaf springs 3 extend as shown in Fig. 1 (see right side of the figure). In addition to this, there are provided intermediate connecting members 5, which at one of the ornamental links engage in wide slots 6 and are loosely secured in their position in these slots by means of laterally projecting portions 7, while at the other one of two adjacent links the connecting members 5 engage loosely by means of hook-like sockets 8 in narrower slots 9. These connecting members 5 serve as a means to limit the pull on or the extension of the bracelet in both directions (see Figs. 1 and 2) and thus protect the bracelet against undue extending. The intermediate members 5 may be provided with central openings 10 adding to the flexibility of the intermediate members. Furthermore, the ornamental links 1 overlap by means of lateral flaps 11 the leaf springs 3 laterally inserted into them.

In order to shorten the bracelet, if necessary, the lateral flaps 11 are bent upwardly, whereupon the respective leaf spring 3 is removed and the connecting member 5 with its socket 8 detached from the adjacent. ornamental link 1. This shows that it is easy to remove or to add links according to requirements.

Instead of using the leaf spring 3 (see Fig. 4) having the shape of a bail and covering upon the underside the entire width of the bracelet, it is also possible to employ a leaf spring 12 (see Fig. 5) of rounded formation. In order to increase or to facilitate the extensibility of the bracelet, it is further possible to use a leaf spring 13 (see Fig. 6) provided with an inner loop 14. And, finally, it is also feasible to employ instead of one leaf spring, extending over the entire width of the bracelet, a plurality of narrower leaf springs arranged side by side.

What I claim as new and desire to secure 'by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. An extensible link band for wrist-watches or ornamental purposes, comprising, a plurality of rectangular sheet-metal links alined in band-like fashion and having an outer surface adapted as carriers of ornamental decorations, said rectangular links having oppositely disposed transversely extending side portions inwardly curved in a direction toward each other so that between said two inwardly curved side portions an inwardly open hollow compartment is formed, said inwardly curved side portions being provided with oppositely disposed transversely extending slots; a plurality of curved bail-like leaf springs having a transverse dimension substantially equal to that of said link having their free ends angularly bentoff in a direction toward each other loosely secured to the back of said plurality of sheet-metal links with that the two bent-off free ends of every leaf spring engaging behind two adjacent inwardly curved side portions of two adjacent sheet metal links and urging said links into abutting relation; and a plurality of fiat connecting members located above the bent-off free ends of said springs and provided at opposite ends with transversely extending projecting portions engaging and loosely secured by said transversely extending projecting portions in said transversely extending slots of said sheet metal links, so that pull exerted on the bracelet results in moving the angularly bent-oil free ends of every leaf spring farther apart from each other until this movement is stopped by said transversely extending projecting portions at the opposite ends of said connecting members.

2. Extensible link band as specified in claim 1, in which said bail-like leaf springs are provided with looplike body portions positioned between the two free ends of the springs and adapted to facilitate and increase the flexibility of the leaf springs.

3. Extensible link band as specified in claim 1, in which said oppositely disposed transversely extending slots in said inwardly curved side portions of said links are of different length, so that said connecting members engage at one end in a longer slot and at the opposite end in a shorter slot of two adjacent links.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 918,175 Lewis v Apr. 13, 1909 FOREIGN PATENTS 249,462 Switzerland June 30, 1947 181,358 Germany Feb. 28, 1906 

